Craig Revel Horwood apologises for Big Fat Gypsy Weddings gaffe

Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has been forced to apologise after using the term ‘pikeys’ when discussing
Big Fat Gypsy Weddings.

Craig Revel Horwood branded gypsies ‘pikeys’ live on air (Getty)

Horwood was appearing on the panel of Channel Five show The Wright Stuff when he made the controversial remarks, and was swiftly forced to apologise.

The 46-year-old Strictly judge said he was sick of seeing travellers on television after the success of series My Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, saying: ‘Be a gypsy and stick to your codes and don’t involve us. And get off our TVs.

‘That’s like using the ‘n’ word towards black people and you will have to apologise for that.’

Craig Revel Horwood was discussing Big Fat Gypsy Weddings

Horwood quickly apologised for his comments, and admitted he had caused offence with similar comments previously: ‘I do apologise, and I had to apologise at Christmas because I said it to one of my friends and he walked out.

‘I do apologise to the nation for the pikey remarks. I take it back.’

The term ‘pikey’ is widely understood to be a derogatory term for travellers or people of a low social class, with many considering the term racist.